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01. SLIME-TIVITY OF THE WEEK
The magic formula has been hanging around the Planet Science website for quite some time now, but when you keep getting requests, you keep getting requests.... So here it is: the recipe for a nice slug of sticky gunk. Or 'slime' as we say in the business. (You can buy it from toyshops too - but it's much better fun to make it yourself...) What you'll need: * Borax (tip: you can buy this in the local chemist - our experience is that the more ye olde your chemist is, the more likely they'll be to have it) * White Glue * Water * Food Colouring * A sturdy sealable plastic container * Plastic cups * A tablespoon * A great love of slimy substances... What to do: * First make up your Borax solution. 2 tablespoons of Borax dissolved in 500ml of water should be about right... * Take a cup of water and add it to 1 tablespoon of borax. * Mix 1/4 cup glue with 1/4 cup of water. * In the container add and 1/2 a cup of borax solution to 1/2 a cup of the glue solution. Add a few drops of food colouring. * Seal the container and SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE - go mad! Keep going... keep going... ok STOP! * Your slime is ready to go.! What's happening? The borax enables the glue (polyvinyl acetate) molecules to join together to form larger molecules called polymers. This, as you can see, makes a thickened, slimy gel that Fungus the Bogeyman himself would be proud of.  |
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| 02. THIS WEEK IN SCIENCE HISTORY September 6th back in 1978 saw a development in medical technology that went on to change the lives of millions of people around the world. This was the date scientists announced they'd been successful in creation human insulin in the laboratory. Read all about how they did this, and how insulin is used in the body, by clicking to Science Line's website at: http://www.sciencenet.org.uk/onthisdayinscience/0903/0609.html They've dug out a link to the original press release you can look at while you're there, and there are a couple of other related links too. Apparently it's all perfect material for anyone involved in GCSE science too (sshh). Check it out! |
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| 03. RECOMMENDED WEBSITES OF THE WEEK Ever find yourself in need of a factoid? You know, like a normal fact but just a little bit groovier in shape and form. If so, your first port of call should of course be the Amazing Facts section in the Wired area of the Planet Science website But when you've explored and digested all of those nuggets, have a look at this fab site from the American broadcasters NPR. The FUN FACTOID categories available on the site are: Animalia, Space is the Place, and Techno Time - and by the time you've finished reading through them you'll know, amongst very many other things, about giggling rats, the mother of all meteorites and why spinach and dynamite is a combination that won't bring the house down... NB There are loads there, so you may need to equip yourself with a cup of tea before you start! And here are two more for you to peruse while you're chained to your computer: THE MET OFFICE EDUCATION site is packed with information and resources for teachers and pupils alike - or for anyone really - who wants to look up weather reports, read about historically important weather events, find out more about how the Met Office came to be and what they get up to all day there. There are links to all sorts of value-added resources, and if all this weathery talk REALLY takes your fancy, they've got careers pointers too for wannabe meteorologists... Here's the link: http://www.met-office.gov.uk/education/index And finally, if you like your horse-racing, you'll know that September features both the St Leger and the Ayr Gold Cup ... and here's a science site we found that investigates what makes a top horse. It's called ENGINEERING THE PERFECT RACEHORSE and it's part of the brilliant 'Why Files' site. Find it here: http://whyfiles.org/shorties/135racehorse/index.html . And please note that Planet Science does not condone gambling - this is SPORT SCIENCE in action, and there's not a whisker of John McCririck anywhere! |
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| 04. GLASGOW WINNERS The draw has now taken place for the four family passes to Glasgow Science Centre and they are as follows: Caitriona McKnight of Saffron Walden in Essex; Jo Martin of Aberdeen; Kate Weir of Bearsden in Glasgow and Calum MacLeod of Dundee. Congratulations to all of you - your tickets will be in the post very shortly. Have a great day out! |
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| 05. JOKE-BOOKS OF THE WEEK Toiling in the vineyards of mirth since last Friday have been three top newsletter readers who decided to take up the Book Title Challenge - and great work too we say! Not that their owners seem very proud of the following efforts. "Here are a few pathetic ones," says Alan Vincent of SETPOINT for MKOB, continuing, "My excuse is that I'm about to go on my hols." 'The Force of Gravity' by Ivor Sawhead 'Alexander Fleming: My Favourite Inventor' by Penny Sillin 'A Biography of Marie Curie' by Francis Best (OK you clever clogs, I know she was born in Poland, says Alan) Meanwhile from Elizabeth Walker we have two slightly less sciencey, but still top quality contributions: 'Haunted House' by Hugo First and 'Falling Off a Cliff' by Eileen Dover And finally, "This is bad, but the best I could come up with," says Nancy Dobson of Skipton Girls' High School: "Learn To Love Mushrooms And Become a Fun Guy" by Michael O'Gee What? You think that was bad? You want to check our Joke of the Week archives Nancy. or maybe not. On that fungally challenged note, we must end this week's newsletter as there's not mush room for anything else. If you have any nuggets of news, fascinating facts, ostentatious offers or other germane gems for next week's Planet Science News, send them straightaway to Anne McNaught on anne@planet-science.com. Have a great week! |
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